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( Received 29 March 2018; Accepted 18 April 2018; Date of Publication 19 April 2018 )

WSN 97 (2018) 225-240 EISSN 2392-2192

Jelili Adewale Adeoye

Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

E-mail address: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Question formation is a universal phenomenon; it is indeed an integral part of the universal

grammar. Every native speaker of a language has a way of making enquiries on issues that bother

them. In this study, I examine the syntax of interrogative construc

two types of interrogative constructions in the language namely polar and content question. I establish

that polar question is derived through Intero which select IP/FinP as its complement to project

maximally. I also show that the head of the content interrogative sentence is null like many Defoid –

Kwa languages where content Intero head selects FocP

– content Intero head selects TopP as its direct

complement. The study adopts the split CP hypothesis and the catographic analysis of Rizzi (1997 &

2001) for its analysis.

Keywords: - operator

1. INTRODUCTION

ment of Kogi State (see Abiodun 2007).

focus of this paper.

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World Scientific News 97 (2018) 225-240

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This focus of this present paper, howeve

. Question formation is a

universal property of all languages and every native speaker has a way of making enquiry on

issues that bothers them.

Question in languages are generally divided into two: Polar and Content questions.

Languages of the world use different mechanisms in deriving these structures. English for

instance, has no designated morpheme for polar question. It adopts the use of auxiliary verbs

such as: will, can, do and this is done through subject auxiliary inversion which involves the

movement of the auxiliary verb from I to C node outside the IP. The content question word in

English is rather called WH-question.

It is also derived through the movement of the question words from the base to sentence

initial position. A number of Benue-Congo languages also adopt different mechanisms in

achieving this same ends. Igbo for instance has no designated morpheme for deriving polar

question. It uses low tone to differentiate declarative from polar question. The low tone is

attached to the first tone bearing unit in the sentence. Consider this example:

1. 1b.

You go-pst market You go-past market

You went to the market Did you go to the market?

(cf. Ileonu 2010)

The content question on the other hand, is derived through both logical and syntactic

movements (see Uwalaka 1982, Maduagwu 2012). As shown in 2 below:

D-Structure S- Structure

2. Aha gị b gini? 2b. Gini i ị ti ?

Name you (sg) is what? What is name you

?’ What is your name?

(cf. Maduagwu 2012)

Furthermore, Urhobo also derives its polar interrogative sentence from a declarative

sentence through the addition of a low tone to a declarative sentence after the last tone bearing

unit. The low tone question morpheme attaches to the final vowel of the sentence, making it

to end with a low tone but there is no lengthening of this vowel. The low tone only aligns with

the high tone at final position. This is exemplified in 3a.

3(a).

I went work Q ’ ?

The content question is

addition, a low is added at the final position and the subject NP in the declarative sentence

bears a high tone in the interrogative. The realization of the content interrogative is

demonstrated in 3b.


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3(b). What did Ese buy?

? H E … ?

(cf. Aziza 2010)

H

These polar question words occur at sentence initial, medial and final position.

Moreover, are restricted to sentence initial position, ha occurs at sentence medial

position while is restricted to sentence final position. The formation of polar question in

Yoruba is illustrated in 4a.

4. Ade isu ?

Qw NP eat yam

?

(cf. Ajiboye 2013)

The content interrogative sentences are derived through the movement of the content

question words such as (what) ta, (who) , (when) where) to sentence initial

position and it is accompanied by a focus marker ni. This is exemplified in 5a and b below:

5 (a). Declarative

NP hear word

Ade heard a word

5 (b). ni Interrogative

Qw foc. NP hear

What did Ade hear?

(cf. Yusuf 2010)

H -

H

2.

H

interaction of the question words with other lexical categories, I divid

-verbal clause.

2. 1. POLAR QUESTION IN VERBAL CLAUSE

Verbal clauses are clauses that have finite verb as their governing node and make a

complete sense. In a nutshell,


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This is shown in 6 below:

6 (i). 1b( i )

NP TNS buy shoe NP TNS buy shoe.

Ade bought a shoe. Ade is buying a shoe

(ii). ii

Qw Ade TNS buy shoe Qw Ade TNS buy shoe

? Is Ade buying a shoe?

(iii). iii

Qw Ade TNS buy shoe

’ ? ’ ?

(iv).* iv *

Qw Ade TNS buy shoe Qw Ade TNS buy shoe

Did Ade buy a shoe? Did Ade buy a shoe?

occur at sentence initial position. Moreover, marks past tense while ka

2. 2. NON-VERBAL CLAUSE POLAR QUESTION

Non–verbal clauses are nominal clauses. The governing node of such clauses is not a

verb but a noun with its modifiers or a prepositional phrase. Ajiboye (2013) asserts that a non-

verbal clause polar question includes a noun and its modifiers or a prepositional phrase. This

type of question occurs in restricted context. This is exemplified in 7 below:

7. (i)

Qw NP Emp.

?

(ii).

Qw NP Emp

’ ?

(iii).*

Qw NP Emp

Is this Ade?

In examples in 7 above, the question words occur at sentence initial position. We also

observe the presence of ě that occurs immediately after the NPs in the examples. The word is

an emphatic marker in the language because it emphasizes the NP that occurs before it. It

must be stated here that non verbal clauses are reduced form of IP, in this case the Intero

takes DP at its complement. With respect to that is used as polar question word in both

verbal and non- verbal polar interrogative sentences above, Adeoye


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where the word occurs at sentence initial position a whole IP has been ellipse before it.

However, Ilori (2017) asserts that the word is polar question that is derived through

prefixation: ’

through nominal prefix.Based on this fact, the derived is noun, as a result it cannot stand

as Intero head. Based on this argument, we shall treat

2. 3. DERIVATION OF POLAR INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

From the insights obtained from the data presented in

R zz ’ (1997) split CP hypothesis and the

cartographic approach and Aboh & Pfau (2011), will show an InterP where the Spec InterP is

null and Intero selects IP/FinP to project maximally. The tree diagram below represents the

proposed structure.

2.3.1. DERIVATION OF NON -VERBAL POLAR QUESTION


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The derivation of non-verbal polar interrogative emanates from Empho

which externally

merges with DP to satisfy the C-selection requirement thereby projecting into ’. The

Empho

has an EPP feature which makes it projects into EmphP thereby licensing the pied

piping of DP to Spec EmphP to enhance the correct word order. The Intero

externally merges

with EmphP, and it in turn projects to ’ which later projects into InterP. The schema is

represented below:

3.

“ ”

kind of question in which the speaker asks the hearer to supply specific information either

about participants, settings, events, places or situations. According to Payne (1997) a content

question requires more than the response of affirmation or disaffirmation. The import of this

“ ”

Languages of the world differ in terms of the placement of content question words in

sentences. Akrofi-Ansah (2010:99) notes, among other things, that:

Constituent words or phrases may be put obligatorily in clausal-initial

position; they may occupy the same position as the constituent questioned or

they may occupy either of these two positions in which case the language

accepts both positions.

From the as

words occur in two positions in interrogative sentences: clause initial and final positions.

This is shown in 10 below:

10 (i).

NP see O.

Ade saw Ojo.

(ii).

NP see who foc

Ade saw who?

(iii). Tai i?

Qw foc. NP see

Who did Ade see?

In the examples in (10) above, the question word occurs at clause initial and final

positions. The example in (10 ii) is regarded as echo question or the base where the NP object

of the verb is turned to a question word while (10 iii) is the surface where the question word is

moved from its extraction site to clause initial position. The constituent (the question word)

leaves a trace at its extraction site that is co-indexed with the question word at the clause

initial position (landing site).

However, on the account of the occurrences of content question words in interrogative

sentences in languages, Siemund (2001) notes, among other things, that language can be


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described in terms of the position of occurrence of its interrogative words -

question words occur at the final position is regarded to as echo question. At this point, we

shall present the sentence occurrences of each of the interrogative words before accounting

for their derivations.

adverbs which are moved to

information such as (who), (what), (where), (how much or how many),

(which), (when), (because of what), (how).Th

(ii) the ones that occur at sentence final position.

3. 1. CONTENT QUESTION WORD OCCURING AT SENTENCE INITIAL

POSITION

3. 1. 1. CONTENT QUESTION WORD

is a content question word that is used to make inquiries about human. It has a

semantic property in it that restricts its use only to entities that possess the feature [+human].

The question word occurs at sentence initial and final position. This is illustrated in 11

below:

11. (i).

A. Tns wash cloth AM O.

O ’

(ii).

A. Tns wash cloth AM who

Akin washed whose cloth?

(iii). i i?

Qw Top. NP OQM wash cloth PossP.

Whose cloth did Akin wash?

In 11, one notices that genitive possessor is turned to a question word while the

possesum remains in the sentence in the case of echo question in 11 (ii), it is also

observed that ni possessive marker (associative morpheme) mediate between the possessor

and the possesum. When the question word is moved to sentence initial position as shown in

11(iii), one observes that the associative morpheme disappears and a preverbal particle

appears between the subject NP and the verb; the moved element leaves a recapitulatory

pronoun ( at its extraction site.

sition to clause initial

position (Koopman et.al 2009).

One needs to note also that the instances of the question word occurring at the final

5 “

usually used to express su z

”

-Congo languages.


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is used to question entities that have the feature [+animate]. It is used to inquire

about entities other than those that have [+human] feature.

Consider the examples below:

12. (i). .

B. TNS eat yam

(ii).

?

(iii). i i?

Qw Top. NP OQM eat

What did Bola eat?

In 12, it is observed that the object of the transitive verb is turned to a question word

and it is moved to sentence initial position. The moved constituent leaves a trace at its

extraction site and verb is left stranded.


This content question word is used to make enquiries about the location of a particular

entity which may either be a person or an object. The content question word is normally used

to talk about the precise position or location of a person or thing.

See the following examples:

13. (i)

Wale. TNS go Lagos.

(ii)

W. TNS go Qw

Wale went where?

(iii) i i?

Qw Top NP OQM. go

Where did Wale go?

In 13, the adverb of place is turn to a question word and it moved to clause initial

position, the constituent leaves a trace at its extraction site.


This content question word is used to inquire about the price and quantity of an item.

The context of use normally determines whether the word is used to inquire about the price or

the quantity of an item. In the examples below the price will be looked at:


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14. (i)

K. TNS buy cloth PossP. Naira. ten

(ii)

K. TNS buy cloth PossP. Qw

Kunle bought his cloth for how much?

(iii) i da ti ?

Qw Top. K. OQM. buy cloth PossP. .

H ?

In 14, the price of the quantity is turn to a question word and it is moved to sentence

initial position while it leaves a trace at its extraction site.


This content question word is used to seek information on the identification of

something amongst a group of entity. It shows that a group of items exists and one seeks or

makes enquiry on a particular member of the group. This is done for clarification purposes

and this question word is used to make specification of one thing or person from a set of

persons or things. The manifestation of the question word is shown in 15 below:

15. (i)

Olu. TNS cook Yam. black

O

(ii)

Olu. TNS cook yam Qw

Olu cooked which yam?

iii. i ø hi ti?

Qw Yam. Top. Olu. OQM. cook

O ?

In 15, NP qualifier is turned to a question word at the base before it is moved to

sentence initial position. One also observes that when the question word is moved it is

accompanied by the NP it qualifies. The constituent leaves a trace at its extraction site while

the verb is left stranded. This phenomenon is not strange, it is reported in the Yoruba

language where the question word wo is used. Consider these Yoruba examples:

16 a. I bought white book

b. Which book did I buy?


This content question word is used to enquire about the time or period that a particular

event takes place or will take place. It is interesting to note that in some Benue-Congo

languages, this question word is in form of a phrase. See the examples below:


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17. i.

K. TNS go farm yesterday

Kunle went to the farm yesterday

ii

K. TNS go farm Qw

Kunle went to the farm when?

iii i i?

Qw Top. K. OQM. go farm

When did Kunle go to the farm?

In 17, time adverb is turn to a question word at the base before it is moved to

sentence initial position, but one notices that the shape of last syllable of the word changes

from → at the landing site. The moved constituent like other question word in the language

leaves a trace at its extraction site.


This content question word is unique it is a product of compounding; it is pre-occupied

with the discussion of the cause of an event. Moreover, the interrogative word often times

indicates reason for an action or the cause of an action. Consider these examples:

18. i. i gb i?

Qw Top 2sg. OQM pre-verb go

Because of what did you(sg) go?

ii. i i?

Qw Top 2pl OQM pre-verb fight

Because of what did you (pl) fought?

iii. Awa

1pl pst go Qw

We went because of what?

iv. Ama

3pl. Pst go farm Qw

They went to farm because of what?

In 18, adverb of reason is moved to sentence initial position but in this situation the

adverb is concatenated with the question word to form the question phrase.


This interrogative word is used to make enquiries about the welfare of a person or an

object. This is referred to as verb question word. See the examples below:

19. i

Qw NP

How is Olu?


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ii. mama?

Qw NP

How is mama?

iii.

Qw NP possP.

How are your children?

In 19, the basic question word is which assimilates the feature of the vowel that

occurs after it. It is assumed that the question word moves to the initial position of the noun

phrase just the previously discussed question words. One needs to note that this interrogative

form is a reduced IP.

From the data presented above, we can conclude that all the content question words

occur at sentence initial position via movement from the base position. The occurrences of the

content question word at final position are instances of echo question. We also observe that

when the question words that are noun qualifier are moved to sentence initial position they

leave resumptive pronoun (RP) at their extraction sites while others that are nominal leave a

trace at their extraction site.

We further observe that when the question words are moved to sentence initial position

particle normally surfaces between the subject NP and the verb.

3. 2. CONTENT QUESTION WORD OCCURING AT SENTENCE FINAL POSITION


These question words are used predominantly to ask about the welfare of the person

such questions are posed to. They may also be used to make enquiries from a member of a

family on the welfare of his/her relatives. In some instances, such word is used as a greeting

form rather than a question. Consider these examples:

20.i

NP possP. Qw

How is work?

ii.

NP possP. Qw

How is your house?

iii.

NP possP. Qw

How is/are your friend(s)?

iv. *

Qw NP possP.

How is your friend(s)

v.

NP TNS. sleep Qw

How did Olu sleep?


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vi. Ama

3pl TNS. go Qw

How did they go?

vii.*

Qw 3pl TNS go

How did they go?

In examples in 20, the question word occurs at the final position. We assume that the

situation here is a case of echo question because all the previous content question words occur

at sentence initial. However, the semantics of the two question words seem different. For

example, as used in the sentences in 20(i-iii), is a form of greetings, used to make

enquiries about the welfare of the person in question. The use of in 20(v-vi) makes

enquiries on the manner at which a particular th

– ) cannot occur at

sentence initial position. This phenomenon discussed here is not unusual, the same situation is

observed by Issah (2013) in Dagbani. Consider the examples below:

21. i -

2PLU child PLU DEF be how

How are your children?

ii

1SG father be how

How is your father?

The question word ’ is hosted at the right

pheriphery of clause structure. As explained in Issah (2013) the question is a case of phatic

usage of language (greetings).

3. 3.

After examining the question words in , it is important to show the distribution or

position of occurrence of the words. This is exemplified in Table 1 below:

CONTENT QUESTION WORD POSITION OF OCCURRENCE

INITIAL FINAL

1 √

2 √

3 √

4 √


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5 √

6 √

7 √

8 √

9 √

The table above shows the distribution of the content question words in . It is

indicated in the table that all the question words occupy initial position except for only one

that is restricted to the final position alone. From the data presented and the table above, we

can deduce that has ten content question words as exemplified in data and each of these

words can be used in various contexts in the language.

3. 4.


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From the data presented, the derivation of the content interrogative sentence involves

the movement of the Wh -operator to Spec InterP at the clause initial position. The head of

the question projection is evidently null, because there is no phonetically visible functional

item that immediately follows the moved Wh-operator in InterP. Thus, we proposed Inter

head of content question selects TopP as it direct complement because Top is an empty

category. Based on this fact, Wh-operator moves through Spec TopP to Spec InterP. The

assumption here is represented with the schema below in (22).

3. 4. 1. DERIVATION OF CONTENT INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES WITH

CONTENT QUESTION WORD AT FINAL POSITION

In accounting for interrogative sentences with their content question at the final

position, I assumed that the content question word occurs at the initial position. As a result, I

proposed a multiple InterP layers where the IP/FinP is move to Spec InterP2 and the Wh –

operator occupies the Spec InterP1 (see Rizzi 1997, 2001). The structure below is a

representative of interrogative sentence where the content question word occurs at sentence

final position. See (23) below:


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4. CONCLUSIONS

In this paper, we have examined the syntax of interrogative contruction We

have established that the polar interrogative sentence is derived through Intero

which selects

IP/ FinP as its complement. It is argued that Wh- operators are moved are moved to Spec

InterP at the initial position of the sentence and it is established that the Intero head of content

question selects TopP as its direct complement. It is further shown that the movement of the

Wh-operator to Spec InterP triggered the occurrence of particle between the subject DP

and the verb. We demonstrated that the cases of that occur at sentence final

position are also instances of echo question. We demonstrated that the content question words

occur at sentence initial position and proposed a multiple InterP layers in line with Rizzi

1997; 2001, where Spec InterP2 is the probe that triggers the movement of the IP/FinP which

is the goal to satisfy its EPP feature and to derive the correct word order. Note:

(object question marker), where the two occur simultaneously in a sentence homonymy avoidance principle is

invoked. The shape of the negative marker changes to before OQM.

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